Other/Uncategorized CZJ 5cm/1.5 LTM, real or fake?

[dexdog]

eBay item 130501460084. I vote for fake on this one. Doesn't have the big screw on the focus ring that acts as the stop mechanism for the aperture. Engraving looks too big, and almost like "Earl Zeiss Jena"; maybe Carl had a brother 😀. Black paint on the rangefinder cam is not typical of WW2-era Zeiss lenses. Also, Hartmut Thiele's book shows this serial number in a batch of 5cm/2 lenses, December 1945 delivery date, some of which were made in LTM.

Can't be sure of course, but it looks like a J-3 to me. Only been on the boards about one day, and already 4 bids boosting price to 123 USD. Needless to say, I have no connecttion with the seller.

 

[mbisc]

Can't comment on the likelihood of the lens to be fake, but I do know the store that's the seller, and they are an honest and good store for collectors. No connections to them, except that I have purchased a number of cameras in their physical store, and have always been pleased with my purchases...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It's either a Jupiter-3 with a re-engraved namering, or a transition lens in a J-3 mount. The only way to know is to take the lens apart.

It is not an original wartime lens.

 

[bowieknife]

looks like a Jupiter-3 to me

 

[johannielscom]

Not a real Sonnar, at least not the barrel.

Not a line but a dot as an aperture mark, no comma's but dots as decimal separators in the aperture markings. Bigger screw to hold the aperture is missing.

And what is that about the original coating being removed?


However, this does not seem to hold potential buyers back, lotsa bidders!